Iron-red bell-shaped vase

Vessel Type: Bell-shaped Vessel

Artist: dayatang

Material: Porcelain

A bell-shaped vase with iron-red and gold-painted dragon design typically requires three firings: first, a high-temperature firing to create a white porcelain body; then, an iron-red coating applied and a low-temperature firing in the kiln; finally, a dragon design painted on the iron-red surface with gold; and then, a final firing in the kiln to produce the finished product.

Iron oxide red is a low-temperature red glaze made by firing iron oxide in an oxidizing atmosphere. During the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, the imperial kilns replaced copper red with iron oxide red, calling it "smeared red glaze". In the early Qing Dynasty, it was applied using the blowing glaze method and was also known as "coral red glaze".

Iron-red often has an orange-like red hue and is loved for its gentle and elegant color. Iron-red's color is neither as flamboyant as red nor as bright as yellow; it lies precisely between red and yellow, presenting a unique beauty.

Iron red enamel was widely used in the Qing Dynasty, generally in wucai (five-color) and doucai (contrasting colors) wares.